Goose Feather at Namba Parks

Leaving Osaka Castle via Uemachi-suji Avenue , I headed for Tanimachi 4-chome Station. Passing rows of red-maple trees planted on each side of road, then head to station entrance which was located at the feet of mighty Osaka Museum of History.

“Enjoy Eco Card” (another name for One Day Pass in Osaka) for 600 Yen made ut comfortable and easy to got in and out of station without having to hunt a ticket at automatic vending machine when you wanted to use the services of Osaka Metro. I just tap the card at ticket collecting gate and enjoyed traveling around Osaka as I please.

Enjoy Eco Card.

Taking Tanimachi Line and changing to Sennichimae Line at Tanimachi 9-chome Station, my journey stopped at Namba Station after traveling three kilometers and in fifteen minutes.

Arriving at the eighty-five year old Namba Station, I exited towards Namba City. Namba City is a very large shopping center in this area.

Stepping in corridor after corridor in Namba City made me interested to stop by and saw some of UNIQLO store’s winter jacket collections in a side of magnificent corridor. An interesting funny story happened to me again here. This was the result of my cheap winter jacket I was wearing. This second-hand winter jacket from Pasar Baru (a market in my town) sheded soft goose down from its inside when I tried on a UNIQLO winter jacket in dressing room. Suddenly, after I came out from fitting room, a female attendant took a broom and dustpan to clean that goose. She just smiled at me when was putting the winter jacket back into display case. Even though, I thought I wouldn’t be able to afford it, I was still determined to try it. How could I not think a thousand times to buy it if a winter jacket was priced at 12,900 Yen.

To forgot about that embarrassing incident, I hurriedly left the store and rushed to Namba Parks. This time I started to be amazed because the access to Namba Parks kept me on indoor pedestrian path, even though Namba City and Namba Parks were in different locations. The indoor corridor continued to south and was directly connected to Namba Parks.

After walking less than two hundred meters from the exit gate of Namba Station, I finally arrived at Namba Parks. The cool garden was designed at the top of shopping center with a contour made of steps like a terrace. I should have visited this park at night because there were a lot of lights installed which would definitely light up at night.

A side of Namba Parks, the park above the mall.

Namba Parks itself is also integrated with a shopping and office complex located in Naniwa City District. In the park, I only took thirty minutes because I wanted to visit Americamura soon to see the shopping and entertainment area from a different perspective.

It was already half past two in the afternoon, I started to leave Namba Parks via original route when I came to Namba Parks.

Magazine, Osaka Metro and Osaka Castle

A quarter of an hour to nine….I left Kaga Hotel in Nishinari City District after leaving my backpack in reception area. I rushed to Dobutsuen-mae Station. But first, I had to stuff something into my stomach before arriving at station. Since midnight last night, when I arrived in Osaka, I haven’t eaten a bite.

I decided to look for the nearest convenience store. On the way to station, I found a FamilyMart on the edge of Saka-suji Avenue. I won’t be munching on onigiri again for breakfast. I’ve been bored since two days ago routinely chewing that food. Finally I chose a cup noodle and immediately took the queue in front of cashier. Waiting my turn, one by one, FamilyMart customers completed their payment. I only reflexively followed forward when the queue in front also advanced, but actually my eyes never looked ahead.

Cashier : “Hello”

I still didn’t budge.

Cashier: “Hello”

I still thought thar it was the turn of someone who queueing in front of me

Cashier: “Helloooo….Sir. You…..Sir”.

Me: “Oh it’s my turn, sorry” The cashier just smiled when he saw my face was red with embarrassment. Damn….She and the queue behind me were grinning in unison because they caught me staring at a corner of a shelf with many adult magazines neatly arranged. Luckily the cashier didn’t offer me to buy the magazine….I was embarrassed.

This kind of thing is common in Japan…..

After paying, I headed to a dispenser. Pour hot water into cup noodles and took a corner of that convenience store to eat it.

Cashier: “Helloooo Sir, eat outside, please!”

Ohhh….I was embarrassed, expelled out again, even though I was avoiding cold air outside. In the end, I still ate my cup noodles while standing in front of minimarket while chilling happily….My fate.

Moments later, I were eaten all my noodles until there was no gravy left. I continued to the north. Arriving at the intersection of Abiko-suji Avenue, I immediately headed underground through one of gates belonging to Dobutsuen-mae Station which is on the south bank of main road.

Me: “Hello, How can I get a One Day Pass, Sir”. I made sure not to buy it too long like what happened two days ago in Tokyo.

Security Officer: “Doko e ikitai desu ka?”, apparently this man couldn’t speak English.

Me: “Osaka Castle, Sir”.

Security Officer: “Hooooohhhh….”. He didn’t even know

Me: “Osakajo”.

That security officer then smiled nodding and ushered me through a corridor and then he pointed to an automatic vending machine.

“Arigatou Gozaimasu”, I told him. Even though if you are looking for a machine like this, I can too. Is the One Day Pass sold separately from the machine, that’s what I meant…..Hmmh.

Never mind, I started hitting that automatic vending machine button. I could smile with relief because this machine was not as complicated as the one in Tokyo. I put in a 1,000 Yen sheet, pressed the “ENGLISH” button, continued to the “CARD” button and finally I found the “ONE DAY PASS” button for 600 Yen.

That night was the first overseas New Year’s Eve for me. I purposely bought an One Day Pass because I was going home after midnight, after New Year’s Eve Countdown of course.

Now I was getting ready to take Osaka Metro. It was also my first time experiencing subways in Japan after having only tasted surface trains nine times in a row since my arrival in Tokyo.

I started at Midosuji Line and then changed to Tanimhaci Line at Tennoji Station. Drove north for five kilometers and within fifteen minutes, I finally arrived at Tanimachi 4-chome Station in Chuo City District.

I immediately exited through the exit gate where Osaka Museum of History building and the historical landmark Hoenzaka Iseki are located. From there, I continued along Uemachi-suji Avenue towards Osaka Castle which was only one kilometer away.

Osaka Museum of History.
Hoenzaka iseki, 5th Century warehouse building in Japan.
Isn’t that a maple tree?
I arrived at Otemon gate of Osaka Castle

Let’s exploring Osakajo…..

Bulu Angsa di Namba Parks

<—-Kisah Sebelumnya

Meninggalkan Osaka Castle melalui Uemachi-suji Avenue , aku menuju Stasiun Tanimachi 4-chome. Melewati deretan pohon red-maple yang tertanam di setiap sisi jalan, kemudian menuju pintu masuk stasiun yang terletak di kaki-kaki perkasa Osaka Museum of History.

Enjoy Eco Card (nama lain One Day Pass di Osaka) seharga 600 Yen (Rp. 82.000) membuatku nyaman dan mudah untuk keluar masuk stasiun tanpa harus hinggap di automatic vending machine ketika ingin menggunakan jasa Osaka Metro. Aku tinggal men-tap kartu itu di ticket collecting gate dan menikmati berkeliling Osaka sesuka hati.

Enjoy Eco Card.

Menaiki Tanimachi Line dan berpindah ke Sennichimae Line di Stasiun Tanimachi 9-chome maka perjalananku berhenti di Stasiun Namba setelah menempuh jarak tiga kilometer dan dalam waktu tempuh lima belas menit.

Tiba di Stasiun Namba yang berusia delapan puluh lima tahun, aku keluar menuju ke Namba City. Namba City merupakan pusat perbelanjaan yang sangat luas di daerah itu.

Menelusuri koridor demi koridor megah di Namba City membuatku tertarik untuk mampir dan melihat beberapa koleksi winter jacket milik UNIQLO store di salah satu sisi koridor megah. Kejadian menggelitik kembali menimpaku di sini. Ini akibat dari winter jacket murahan yang kukenakan. Winter jacket bekas keluaran Pasar Baru itu merontokkan bulu-bulu angsa lembut dari sisi bagian dalam ketika aku mencoba sebuah winter jacket milik UNIQLO di kamar pas. Sontak, setelah aku keluar dari kamar pas itu, seorang petugas wanita mengambil sapu dan pengki untuk membersihkan bulu-bulu itu. Dia cuma tersenyum menatapku yang sedang meletakkan winter jacket ke tempat display semula. Padahal aku sudah berfikir tak akan mampu membelinya, tetap masih tetap saja nekat mencobanya….Dasar sok gaya. Bagaimana aku tak berpikir seribu kali untuk membelinya jika sepotong winter jacket di banderol dengan harga 12.900 Yen (Rp. 1.750.000).

Untuk melupakan insiden memalukan itu, aku bergegas meninggalka store itu dan bergegas menuju ke Namba Parks. Kali ini aku mulai terkagum karena akses menuju ke Namba Parks membuatku tetap berada di jalur indoor pejalan kaki, padahal Namba City dan Namba Parks berada dilokasi yang berbeda. Indoor corridor itu terus menuju ke selatan dan terkoneksi langsung dengan Namba Parks.

Setelah berjalan tak sampai dua ratus meter dari exit gate Stasiun Namba, akhirya aku tiba juga di Namba Parks. Taman keren itu didesain di bagian atas pusat perbelanjaan dengan kontur yang dibuat berundak-undak bak terasering. Seharusnya aku mengunjungi taman ini saat malam karena terlihat banyak lampu terpasang yang pastinya akan menyala di malam hari.

Salah satu sisi Namba Parks, taman di atas mall.

Namba Parks sendiri juga terintegrasi dengan kompleks perbelanjaan dan perkantoran yang terletak di Distrik Kota Naniwa. Di taman itu, aku hanya menyempatkan tiga puluh menit saja karena aku ingin segera mengunjungi Amerikamura untuk melihat area belanja dan hiburan dengan sudut pandang yang berbeda.

Waktu sudah menunjukkan jam setengah dua siang, aku mulai meninggalkan Namba Parks melalui jalur semula saat aku mendatangi Namba Parks.

Kisah Selanjutnya—->

Majalah Dewasa, Osaka Metro dan Osaka Castle

<—-Kisah sebelumnya

Seperempat jam menuju pukul sembilan….Aku meninggalkan Hotel Kaga di Distrik Kota Nishinari setelah menitipkan backpack di ruang resepsionis. Aku bergegas menuju Stasiun Dobutsuen-mae. Tetapi terlebih dahulu, aku harus menjejalkan sesuatu ke perut sebelum tiba di stasiun itu. Sedari tengah malam tadi, ketika aku tiba di Osaka, belum sesuap pun aku makan.

Aku memutuskan mencari minimarket terdekat. Dalam langkah menuju stasiun, kutemukan sebuah FamilyMart di tepian Saka-suji Avenue. Aku tak akan mengunyah onigiri lagi sebagai sarapan. Aku sudah bosan sejak dua hari lalu rutin mengunyah makanan itu. Akhirnya aku memilih sebuah cup noodle dan segera mengambil antrian di depan kasir. Menunggu giliran, satu persatu pelanggan FamilyMart itu menyelesaikan kewajiban. Aku hanya reflek ikut maju ketika antrian di depan juga maju, tetapi sesungguhnya mataku tak pernah menatap ke depan.

Kasir : “Hello

Aku masih tak bergeming.

Kasir: “Helloo

Aku masih berfikir itu giliran pengantri di depanku

Kasir: “Helloooo….Sir. You…..Sir”.

Aku: “Oh it’s my turn, sorry

Kasir itu hanya senyam-senyum saja melihat mukaku yang memerah karena malu. Sial….Dia dan pengantri di belakangku kompak nyengar-nyengir karena memergoki aku memandangi sebuah sudut rak dengan banyak majalah dewasa yang tersusun rapi. Untung si kasir tidak menawariku untuk membeli majalah itu….Kan malu.

Yang beginian sudah biasa di Jepang….Duhhhh….

Selepas membayar, aku menuju ke sebuah dispenser. Menuang air panas ke cup noodles dan mengambil sebuah pojok minimarket untuk menyantapnya.

Kasir: “Helloooo Sir eat outside, please!”

Duhhhh….Sudah malu, kena usir lagi,. Padahal aku sedang menghindari hawa dingin di luar sana. Ujung-ujungnya, aku tetap saja menyantap cup noodles sambil berdiri di depan minimarket sembari berdingin ria….Nasibbb.

Sewaktu kemudian, cup noodles itu ludes hingga kuahnya pun tak bersisa. Aku melanjutkan langkah ke utara. Tiba di perempatan Abiko-suji Avenue, aku segera menuju bawah tanah melalui salah satu gate milik Stasiun Dobutsuen-mae yang berada di tepi selatan jalan besar itu.

Aku: “Hello, How can I get a One Day Pass, Sir”. Aku memastikan supaya tak kelamaan membelinya seperti kejadian dua hari lalu di Tokyo.

Petugas Keamanan: “Doko e ikitai desu ka?”, rupanya bapak ini tidak bisa berbahasa Inggris.

Aku: “Osaka Castle, Sir”.

Petugas Keamanan: “Hoooohhhhh….”. Dia belum ngerti juga

Aku: “Osakajo”.

Petugas itu lantas tersenyum mengangguk-angguk dan mengantarkanku melalui sebuah koridor lalu menunjuk ke automatic vending machine.

Arigatou Gozaimasu”, ucapku padanya. Padahal kalau mencari mesin beginian, aku juga bisa. Apakah One Day Pass dijual terpisah dari mesin, itu yang kumaksudkan…..Hmmh.

Sudahlah, aku mulai memencat-mencet tombol automatic vending machine itu. Aku bisa tersenyum lega karena mesin ini tak serumit seperti yang di Tokyo. Aku memasukkan selembar 1.000 Yen, memencet “ENGLISH” button, berlanjut ke “CARD” button dan akhirnya kutemukan “ONE DAY PASS” button seharga 600 Yen (Rp. 82.000).

Malam itu adalah malam tahun baru di luar negeri yang pertama buatku. Aku sengaja membeli One Day Pass karena akan pulang selepas tengah malam, setelah New Year’s Eve Countdown tentunya.

Kini aku bersiap menaiki Osaka Metro. Ini juga  pertama kalinya aku merasakan kereta bawah tanah di Jepang setelah sembilan kali berturut-turut hanya mencicipi kereta permukaan semenjak ketibaanku di Tokyo.

Aku mulai menyusuri Midosuji Line lalu berpindah ke Tanimhaci Line di Stasiun Tennoji. Melaju ke utara sejauh lima kilomater dan dalam lima belas menit, aku akhirnya tiba di Stasiun Tanimachi 4-chome di Distrik Kota Chuo.

Aku segera keluar melalui exit gate dimana gedung Osaka Museum of History dan landmark bersejarah Hoenzaka iseki berada. Dari situ, aku terus menelusuri Uemachi-suji Avenue menuju Osaka Castle yang hanya berjarak satu kilometer.

Osaka Museum of History.
Hoenzaka iseki, bangunan gudang dari Abad ke-5 di Jepang.
Itu pohon maple bukan sih?
Aku tiba di Otemon gate Osaka Castle

Mari kita eksplore Osakajo…..

Kisah Selanjutnya—->